A local high school baseball team will return to the state semi-finals Friday and try once again to bring home a state championship this weekend. The Centreville High School varsity squad Tuesday won its quarter-final contest against Concord, 4-3, in extra innings in Battle Creek. The Bulldogs, who sport a 28-3 record, will square off against Sterling Heights Parkway Christian …

Two people from White Pigeon were arrested Tuesday on drug-related charges following a compliance check on parolees and probationers. Sheriff’s officials said investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit worked in conjunction with agents from the Michigan Department of Corrections on a routine, unannounced compliance check. The checks were being conducted on St. Joseph County residents who were …

Michigan’s jobless rate dipped in May to 4.7 percent, the lowest since March 2001. The state’s seasonally adjusted rate was one-tenth of a percentage point below the 4.8 percent rate in April, the state reported Wednesday. The 4.7 percent jobless rate matches the national rate. Total employment was unchanged, while the labor force and number of unemployed both declined by …

Sheldon R. Norton, 70, of Three Rivers, died Monday, June 13, 2016 at his home. He was born in Three Rivers on Sept. 25, 1945 the son of Dale A. and Victoria M. (Sales) Norton. Sheldon is a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in Korea and during Viet Nam. He had been employed as a grocery store manager, and …

The St. Joseph County Commission on Aging is participating in the Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH, which provides older adults with unprocessed, Michigan-grown products from authorized farmers markets and roadside stands throughout the state. Qualified older adults receive coupons that are used to purchase Michigan-grown produce at registered roadside stands and farmers markets. Eligible items include berries, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, beans and …

Here’s a reminder that the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is offering two final boater safety classes this season. The remaining dates are Saturday and June 25 at the sheriff’s department. Each class runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and includes a break for lunch. Participants must be at least 12 years old by the date of the class they …

The St. Joseph County Commission On Aging is partnering with the Three Rivers Farmers Market to offer a cooking demonstration next week. The session takes place at 2:30 p.m. June 23 at the Farmers Market. The program is geared toward senior citizens and is offered at no cost.

A community park was suggested to be named in honor of a former member of the Three Rivers City Commission. During last week’s city commission meeting, commissioner Diane Clay suggested a park on Broadway Street near Fourth Street be named in honor of Elbert Foster, who passed away last month following a 10-year battle against sickle cell anemia. Foster was …

Alfred T. Biland, 88, of White Pigeon, passed away Thursday, June 9, 2016, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born Oct. 3, 1927, in Clay Township, St. Clair County, a son of Alfred O. and Doris M. (Grant) Biland. He joined the Merchant Marines in 1945, traveling to Naples and Venice, Italy on supply delivery and troop transport …

One thing I’ve learned from doing this column is that my personal opinion on anything is better left unsaid. This pertains to topics on religion and politics most of the time. There are times that I find myself standing on that soapbox and expressing my feelings quite openly. After I prepare a column, I go back and review what I’ve …